Your team looks sold but you don't have any studs. You'll have to risk a lot by picking up free agents or try to acquire fantasy studs who are underachieving now for guys that put up great numbers now.

Try to get a closer from free agents! You need more saves and maybe you can trade one of your starters for an offense guy and replace your pitcher with Fogg, Lawrence, Prior, Astacio or other pitchers on hot streaks (repeat all season long, and drop them before next seasons draft)

Hi daveed - good to see you on the board. Basically, an evaluation of your roster depends on a couple factors, namely:

How many teams are in your league? If there are 20, this is an amazing team; if there are 10, you're still in decent shape, but rising to the top won't be qwuite as easy.

What's your league's scoring system? A number of h2h leagues overvalue starting pitching compared with hitters or relievers, in which case your troubles probably begin and end with Pedro's erratic start.

Anyway, let us know a bit more about your league so we'll be able to go into more detail. On the whole, though, if you're in a relatively "standard" league, I like the guys on your roster and think you won't stay in last place for long.

If I had Pedro right now, I'd be trying to deal him for a package of a pitcher like A.J. Burnett and midline offense threat in the nieghborhood of Mike Sweeney.

Not everyone one will agree with this--some think Pedro will return to his dominating form--but I think despite whatever pitching genius he's supplied with, his arm can't keep up. I say find a believer and bleed him! Go after team owners who are desperate for pitching who think Pedro will be their Randy Johnson savior.

Chicago may be right and you could turn out great in doing this and find a guy who takes Pedro for a high price. Anyway, it could turn out the other way, Pedro could get back on track and you are the odd guy...

I think if you really ge ta high price for him, then do it...but dont sell him at any costs, then you could be regreting it for the rest of the season...especially as your team looks fine and you can be patient making any moves.

Seems like the question of what to do with Pedro has been the focus of many fantasy teams, as well as entire leagues, lately. I still believe he'll be a fantasy force this year, but given your league's scoring and the uncertainty surrounding him, I agree with Chicago: start shopping him. Along with the reasons already given, the 5 points your league awards for complete games clinch it for me - an extra 5 points can look awfully good in tight games, and it's unlikely that Pedro will be doing much of anything but showering during the final innings.

I'd look for a top-of-the-line starter with good k/ip numbers (start in the Tim Hudson area and see what happens) plus a second player. Be flexible here: a good bat, an up-and-coming starter or a closer (who doesn't have to be top tier) could all help you.

Anyway, stick with your guns: you have a solid team that shouldn't be in the cellar for long, especially once Percival returns.

By the way, how many pitchers do you start, and in what combination of starters and relievers. Also, does your league have a games or innings pitched maximum?

You can start 7 pitchers.. I believe in any combo
of starters and relievers. I've been starting 6 + 1 closer
since percy is out. But plan to start him when he comes back.
I don't believe there is any max innings/games pitched.

What do you think about this trade: Martinez,Biggio,Everrett for
Buerhle,MarlonAnderson,Edmonds?
I haven't put anything out there yet but I'd be interested to hear
you thoughts.

Also what do you think about dropping Cedeno for
C. Patterson or J. Encarnacion on FAs?

As far as the trade is concerned, I don't think this would help you. Buehrle isn't enough for a sure thing to justify trading Pedro, Anderson is a downgrade, and your outfield is more than stacked without Edmonds.

The real area where you can improve is by changing your pitching strategy. Your league doesn't set a limit on games pitched or innings, and gives you a fairly substantial 2 points per inning pitched. Having a solid pitching strategy under these rules will be even mor eimportant than in other leagues.

Let's do some quick calculations: Mariano Rivera, one of the top closers, would give you around 226 points if he repeats last year's excellent stats. Garrett Stephenson, nobody's top choice for the Cy Young, would give you 462 (or so - I'm rounding here), or more than twice Rivera's score. Still, I'll wager Rivera was picked a lot earlier than Stephenson in your draft...

Therefore, Gagne and Percival have to go. I probably wouldn't drop them, though, since their perceived value is likely high. Trade them, see if you can get an upgrade somewhere else, and hope your opponents start them often...

You'll now have two extra slots. The best way to go here, if your league plays weekly games, would be to devote these slots to rotating pitchers: pick up free agents who look decent and have two starts that week, and slip them into your starting lineup. If your games are shorter, I'd still pick up at least one starter (a 2b-ss would be perfect for the second available slot) who will give you workhorse numbers: a knuckleballer like Wakefield who will
eat up innings might work well.

Your hitting is already solid, and your pitching staff looks good, too (although the Marlins might cost you some wins). Use your pitchers well and you'll win a lot of games in the very near future. A few minor tweaks along the line, and you'll be in the title hunt, not in the cellar.